Tiny clue leads to the collapse of £2,500,000 cannabis empire

18 July 2024 , 16:43

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Tiny clue leads to the collapse of £2,500,000 cannabis empire

A man has been jailed after his DNA was matched to a blood stain at a storage container where £2.5million worth of cannabis was stored.

Police officers found the cannabis vacuum-sealed weighing 427kg inside bags at the storage container on May 16 in Halling, Kent, and found the blood on a cardboard box.

John Small, 61, was arrested at a service station in Chatham, Kent, five days later after he was spotted filling up his Chrysler 300.

While there officers found a 1kg package of cannabis and £3,200 in cash.

In a video of him being arrested, Small can be heard saying: ‘No problem at all’.

Small pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession with intent to supply cannabis at Maidstone Crown Court on July 17.

Small pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession with intent to supply cannabis at Maidstone Crown Court on July 17.

This is the moment John Small was arrested at the petrol station (Picture: Kent Police)

The cannabis found in the storage container (Picture: Kent Police)

Small now faces a jail term (Picture: Kent Police)

He has been jailed for four years.

Detective constable Aaron Chapman said: ‘John Small was clearly part of an organised criminal network involved in the supply of cannabis on an industrial scale. 

‘The blood stain he left at the storage container coupled with the drugs and cash found in his car were such compelling evidence that he was left with little choice but to admit the offences he had committed.’

James Turner